Become a Physical Therapy Aide
Physical therapy aides (PTAs) play an important role in patients' rehabilitation process. As a PTA, you help support the physical therapists in delivering patient care by maintaining a clean, organized treatment area, preparing patients for therapy sessions, and ensuring that the necessary equipment is ready for use. With the growing demand for healthcare services, becoming a certified Physical Therapy Aide (CPTA) offers a stable and rewarding career path.
Why Choose a Career as a Certified Physical Therapy Aide?
As is also true for much of the medical field, the demand for PTAs is projected to grow significantly due to an aging population and the increased emphasis on rehabilitation for chronic conditions and injuries. Being certified will help you stand out in the field, offering opportunities to earn higher wages, access better roles, and demonstrate professional competence to your employers.
What Do Physical Therapy Aides Do?
As a physical therapy aide, you will have a wide range of duties to perform to support patients and therapists.
Your responsibilities often include:
- Organizational Tasks: Managing therapy rooms by cleaning, setting up equipment, and ensuring everything is functional and safe for use.
- Clerical Responsibilities: You can regularly handle scheduling, paperwork, and insurance forms, bridging the administrative side of patient care.
- Patient Interaction: You will likely also regularly welcome patients, provide assistance during exercises, and communicate patient progress to therapists.
- Preparing treatment areas: You are responsible for setting up and cleaning therapy spaces and equipment to ensure a safe, functional environment.
- Assisting patients: Helping patients with mobility, positioning, and comfort during therapy sessions.
- Clerical tasks: Part of your role requires scheduling appointments, answering phones, and managing patient records.
- Inventory and supplies: You may also be in charge of monitoring and restocking therapy equipment and materials.
Though, as an aide, you do not usually directly engage in clinical treatment, your work ensures the smooth functioning of therapy sessions and enhances the patient experience.
Certified Physical Therapy Aide vs. Assistant: What's the Difference?
- Physical Therapy Aide: Becoming a physical therapy aide typically requires a high school diploma or equivalent, and certification is highly beneficial. Aides handle non-clinical tasks such as patient prep and equipment maintenance and earn an average salary of $33,520* annually.
- Physical Therapy Assistant: Becoming a physical therapy assistant typically requires an associate degree and state licensure (requirements vary by state, so check in yours). Assistants work more closely with patients in clinical tasks, such as guiding specific exercises, and earn significantly higher salaries, averaging around $64,080* annually.
Where Do Physical Therapy Aides Work?
The diversity of environments offers flexibility for those seeking different workplace experiences. Certified Physical Therapy Aides can find opportunities in a variety of settings, including:
- Hospitals
- Outpatient clinics
- Rehabilitation centers
- Nursing homes
- Sports medicine facilities
This diversity of workplaces also allows aides to specialize in areas that align with their interests, such as working with athletes or assisting elderly patients.
How to Become a Certified Physical Therapy Aide
Complete Training: While a high school diploma is a minimum requirement, completing a certification program provides essential knowledge about patient care, anatomy, and therapy protocols. To be eligible for the CPTA certification through AAH, you must either complete a full PTA program or have at least one year of experience working as a PTA.
Gain Hands-On Experience: Internships or entry-level positions in therapy settings offer valuable experience and insight into the role.
Earn Certification: Obtaining certification, such as the CPTA credential through American Allied Health, validates your skills and makes you a more competitive candidate in the job market. The majority of employers prefer to hire PTAs who hold certification.
Benefits of Being a Certified Physical Therapy Aide
Certification as a Physical Therapy Aide demonstrates professionalism and commitment, offering benefits such as:
- Enhanced employability: Certified aides are often preferred by employers.
- Higher earning potential: Certification may result in better pay than non-certified aides.
- Career growth opportunities: Certification can be a stepping stone to more advanced roles in physical therapy or healthcare.
Becoming a Certified Physical Therapy Aide (CPTA)
Physical Therapy Aides (PTAs) are essential members of the healthcare team, providing critical support in rehabilitation settings. They assist licensed physical therapists and physical therapy assistants by ensuring patients have a smooth and effective therapy experience. If you are looking for a hands-on role in healthcare without extensive schooling, becoming a certified Physical Therapy Aide (CPTA) is an excellent opportunity!
Why Choose American Allied Health (AAH) for Your Certified Physical Therapy Aide exam?
American Allied Health (AAH) provides a convenient and affordable way to earn your Physical Therapy Aide certification. Once registered, you can immediately access resources to help you prepare for your certification exam.
When you register with AAH, you'll get the benefits of:
- Convenient online exams that allow you to earn your certification onsite at your school, at your employer’s office, or from home, on your schedule. This allows you to certify when it's most convenient and not lose time from work or personal commitments.
- Free study materials and practice exams to help you prepare for your exam so you can certify with confidence.
- Affordable certification fees that make getting certified accessible.
AAH also offers continuing education (CE) courses online, making it easy to keep your certification current to avoid interrupting your career.
Why Become a Physical Therapy Aide Now?
The healthcare industry is rapidly growing, with demand for physical therapy services on the rise due to an aging population and advancements in medical care. This makes it an excellent time to enter the field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for CPTAs is expected to grow significantly; with a projected job growth of 24% by 2031, opportunities in physical therapy are expanding rapidly. Becoming a certified physical therapy aide offers a streamlined entry point into a growing industry that values dedication and skill.
Start Your Journey Today!
Becoming a Certified Physical Therapy Aide is a fulfilling way to enter the healthcare field. With certification programs like those offered by American Allied Health, you can prepare for your exam online at your own pace. The flexibility and accessibility of AAH certification make starting your career as a Physical Therapy Aide easier than ever.
Take the first step toward a dynamic and impactful role in physical therapy—register for certification today and begin your journey toward making a difference in patients’ lives!
*According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics